Vol.8, No.

20 University Community's Weekly Paper@ May 14, 1987

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This Is Nowhere

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 -" Editorial
It's all over now. Just finals and were gone, movin'
on and movin, out What was learned? What will be
taken? What was given?
Seems like this semester was a turning point It
could have been. Somthing should have been
sparked, or was it just another academic marking
period, get your grades and get out One can't really
blame or condemn anyone for having that attitude,
you get what you paid for and leave as quickly as
possible, leaving no marks receiving no scars. You
can't be blamed because there's so much bullshit
flying around this place that if you stick your head up
to peek at whats going on you get a face full of it So
you just do your work and exist to get by, you know no
pain so you feel no pain. No, you can't be blamed, but
it's a shame, a cryin' shame. If you don't reach out
your not going to grasp and there's a whole lot here
waiting to be taken.
Itfs our school, us the students we're paying every-
ones salery, we ultimatilly have the final say in every-
thing yet we've given up our say in anything and thats
exactly what adminisrtation wants. Were playin right
into thier hands and they have shown us nothing in
the past year that gives us a sence that they care about
us, or even relize, that we are human beings Not kids,
not young adults, humans, who need hot water, heat
in the winter, activities, who need to live. In the past
few years our adminisration has done everything in
their power to control our lives as much as possible,
everything from cutting back academic choices out-
side of the sciences, to interfearing with our personal
freedoms.
Complete control is what they want and complete
control is what they are getting, for no other reason
except that we, the students of Stony Brook allow it
This is not to suggest anarchy, or a student take over
or any kind of bad crazyness, but we need a little
breathing room and a little respect One of the many
insidents that comes to mind is when one of the many
-Photo Box ___
Photo by Ed Bridges
page 2 The Stony Brook Press
Cleanup Time
water main brakes that had occured this semester pitiful situation so they can steel money, beef up thier
flooded a resident hall, home for about 30 people. resumes and get nothing done. When there is
legitimate attempt to make life more enjoyable by
student officers who truly care about their school and
their fellow students, nobody seems to care. Whats
worse thier ideas and attempts at organizing events
gets critisized and disregarded with a phases such as
"this sucks." The people guilty of this are usually the
most apathetic and parasitic students attending
I Stony Brook.
What people have to relize is that the students
make the events and if there is nothing going on that
you like get off your ass and start somthing. Yea,
maybe there was no concerts this semester,but I
remember not to long ago when The Fleshtones
played here, an event that had nothing to do with S
A.B.. It was result of the hard work and determination
of a very small number of people. It can be done.
Irrepairable damage was done to hundreds of dollars Take a good look at the graduate students sitting in
worth of personal property. There was no question of the middle of the academic mall, look and learn.
why the pipes were braking every other week no They're pulling it off,they took a stand, dug their feet
question of corners that might have been cut, or of the in deep with a rightous cause and administration had
quality of materials used in building and maintaining no choice but to reckon with them. Look at the people
the upkeep of our overpriced rooms. However when who prtested the in favor of Dube. It showed admini-
one angered student, standing in a puddle in the stration that they had to answer for their blunders. It
middle of his room, remarked to the idle adminstrator showed Long Island, though Newsday, How shady
on the scene "it aint gonna get done by you looking at our administration really is. Things can be done you
it" just have to want it and then work for it
With an attitude that is echoed thoughout the Yea, this semester could have been some kind of
buracracy of Sony Brook, he replied, "listen kid, if turning point Go home and enjoy your summer, but
you keep on talking to me that way you'll live with this think, think real hard, this is your school and your life.
for weeks." That attitude is an outrage yet it seems to We are not robots working for the purpose of feeding
-be the egos and wallets of our administrators.
accepted without question by most students. Remember two dollar pitchers at the Rainy Night
The question most students have, must be "what House? It's all up to us.
can be done?" The first step might be taking a little To all you lucky graduating seniors; congratula-
interest in our most valuable resource Student Polity tions and good luck, we'll miss you.
Association. A 20% voting turnout for elections for
people who will control your money and what goes on
in this school is worse than just apathetic, its an open
invitation for other students to take advantage of a
The
I Stony Brook
Press
Executive Editor......... Michael DePhillip
Managing Editor........... Craig Goldsmitl
Associate Editor ........... Quinn Kaufmai
Photo Editor .................. Ed Bridge
Assistant Photo Editor ........... Jack Zoll(
Business Manager......... D. Nichole Erdo
Editor Emeritus............... Eliz Hamptoi
News and Feature: Joe Caponi, John Dunn, E
Christian, John Isbell, Ray Melville, Ron Ostertaf
Lauren Shepherd, Doug Valente
Arts: Joe Castelli, Mary Rafferty, Mika Slovin
Graphics: Marc Berry, Gwen Burda, Stephen Coyne
Kristin Rusin, Warren Stevens,
The Stony Brook Press is published every
Thursday during the academic year and summer
session by The Stony Brook Press Inc, a student
run and student funded not-for-profit corpor-
ation. Advertising policy does not necessarily
reflect editorial policy. For more information
on advertising call at 632-6451.
Staff meetings are held weekly in The Press
offices on Monday nights at approximately
&.00 pm.
The opinions expressed in letters and view-
points do not necessarily reflect those of our
staff.
Phone: 632-6451
Office:
Suite 020 Central Hall (Old Biology)
S.U.N.Y. at Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY 11794-2790
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More Toxins Found in Lecture Center
by Quinntette
University President John Marburger
convened an emergency meeting Monday
night regarding the Javits Lecture Center in
light of the discovery of carcinogenic di-
oxins and furans present there as a result of
last semester's fire. The study, conducted
by the Zenon Testing Laboratory in Canada
revealed the presence of nine different
types of dioxins and furans in the Lecture
Center at a dangerous rate of 36 parts per
billion (ppb).
Following the announcement of the find-
ings by Richard Drury, from the New York
Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG),
Polity President Marc Gunning immediate-
ly suspended student activities in the
Lecture Center. This resulted in the can-
celling of last weekend's COCA movie,
"The Mosquito Coast," in mid-Harrison
Ford.
On Monday, an emergency meeting was
held in Marburger's office to discuss the
toxic issue. Vice President for Campus
Operations Bob Francis, Associate Vice
Provost Ted Goldfarb, Graduate Student
Organization President Chris Vestuto,
Gunning, Drury, Polity Vice President
Gerry Shaps, NYPIRG investigator Dave
DeLucia, and NYPIRG Chair Neal Drob-
enare were present in the camera-filled
meeting room.
The emergency when three sets of soot
and 'wipe samples: from areas where it was
believed human exposure would arise re-
vealed that the carcinogenic dioxins tetra-
chlorodibenzo, heptachlorodibenzo and
octochlorodibenzo variously exist in the
ventilating ducts and hallways in the
Lecture Center. Also existing in the same
places were the carcinogenic furans tetra-
chlorodibenzo, pentachlorodibenzo, hexa-
chlorodibenzo and octochlorodibenzo. The
combination of these nine dioxins and
furans show they exist in 36 ppb. The
nature of the chemical-tests made it unclear
as to the exact types of dioxins and furans
present, but, according to Drury, "there are
a number of tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins
(TCDD's) which vary widely in toxicity, but
only the total concentration of all the
TCDD's is known."
A main concern at the meeting was that
these dioxins were found in the ventilation
system and therefore have been disbersed
throughout the Lecture Center.
The place where the highest concentra-
tions of dioxins and furans were found are in
the ducts where the noxious chemicals were
sucked in. But when Vestuto asked if these
chemicals were likely to flow throughout the
building, Marburger said, "All these ven-
tilating ducts have the ability to disperse,
but the fans that drew the smoke into the
ducts and out of the building malfunctioned
because of the fire."
Vestuto asked Marburger if some of the
soot could be shaken down by vibration,
and Marburger said, "the idea that some-
one would breathe in flakes seems pretty
flaky."
Negating the idea of dispersal, and that
all is "normal", Marburger claimed, "any-
way, there is probably soot in a number of
air ducts throughout the entire Stony Brook
campus." Doctor Goldfarb also said that,
"even if these materials were dispersed,
they would be visible, especially in milli-
grams.. they wouldn't be just dust."
The section of the ducts containing the
dioxins wil be isolated and cleaned, accord-
ing to Marburger.
But some of those present said that even
though the air may not have circulated,
student's have still been effected by expos-
ure. Gunning asked Goldfarb, "Assuming
that the 36ppb exist, were students in
I Mii
Dioxin Dangers
danger?" Goldfarb answered, "I don't
know."
Undergraduate Regina Good spoke on
behalf of affected students. She said,
"several students keep losing weight and
getting sicker and sicker, and no one can
understand what's wrong with them. I've
been violently ill for months and it only
began after the fire. I was in there 4 days a
week, fm sick and can't get out of bed
sometimes and my doctor is baffled... Stu-
dents are scared, angry, and upset."
Goldfarb said he "saw no problem of any
significance and would feel comfortable
teaching there." Marburger, when asked if
he would move his office to the Lecture
Center said, "Indeed I would."
NYPIRG officials see dioxins as a serious
health concern. According to Drury, "two of
the world's most noted dioxin scientists,
Steven Levin of Mount Sinai Medical
School, and Arnold Schecter, of SUNY
Binghamton, agree that the building should
be quarantined." Levin will be sending a
letter to Marburger stating that he has
reviewed the facts and requests that the
building be closed pending complete test-
ing and cleaning of the building. Drury said,
"there is good reason to believe that people
have been exposed to materials that could
result in long term health effects, and I'll
only consider it safe for inhabitants after
they've identified the levels of dioxins,
furans, and other toxic chemicals. These
tests have so far confirmed our worst
Promises
Polity's Last Year
by Doug Valente
Marc Gunning, whose term as Polity
President will expire shortly, has tried to
fulfill his obligations to the campaign pro-
mises he made in April 1986, aside from his
other duties.
He pledged to address a number of issues
that plagued student life last year. These
included:
* Inadequate parking
* Poor range of activities
* Lack of student awareness of Polity's
functions
* Improper scheduling of activities
* The quality of meal plan products and
pricing
Gunning hasn't achieved anything con-
crete to resolve the parking problem, as
residents and commuters still complain.
They complain not so much about a lack of
spots, but where they are located as well as
the poor bus service.
Gunning proposed to Dr. Robert Francis,
V.P. for Campus Operations, that lines be
repainted at slants in South P lot, and in
places in Stage XII to create more spaces.
Gunning said that the proposal does ask
that bus service be improved too.
The parking problem may still linger, as a
Parking Services and Ticket official said,
"commuters don't stay in their designated
lots." This causes overcrowding in resident
'lots. She said, "At one time they ticketed
about 40 cars in the gravel lot by Kelly."
There was an inkling of alternative
activities brought forth by Gunning and his
cohorts this year. One was the creation of
"Split Images" which hosts various stage
acts. Another was "Operation Metamorpho-
sis," which involved beautifying the campus
by removing garbage.
fears." shed. The internal task force hopes to meet
Marburger disclaims Drury's statement, immediately to determine what tests should
saying he feels such a quarantine would be be done, where, when, and why. Marburger
imprudent, "it would be disruptive to close explained, "there will be a full-scale inves-
the building, Stony Brook's credibility is tigation probing hot spots and with this task
bad enough." force we want to avoid any communications
In response to NYPIRG recommenda- gaps such as those that were evident at the
tions, Marburger said that an internal task start of the ordeal, when a breakdown of
force will be formed. It will include Envir- internal communication contributed to the
onmental Health and Safety Director, opening of the center after the fire occur-
George Marshall, Dr. Goldfarb, Dr. Dale red."
Deutsh, and Dr. Parkinson, and represen- As suggested in NYPIRG's letter to
tatives from NYPIRG, Polity, and the GSO. Marburger, questionaires will be distribut-
Their duty will be to identify external ed to those 7,000 "exposed" students who
consultants, who will be responsible for administration currently possesses on its
getting information, fees and the scope of roster. These questionaires will concern
work to be done, and will make future as- long term health affects and will be mailed
sessments on the Center. Drury said that, out to students and the clean-up crew over
"the formation of a task group is very en- the summer, according to Francis. The sur-
couraging," but that he is unhappy with veys are still being formulated and will not
administration's decision to not quarantine go out in the mail until the questions have
the building. been approved by a legal counsel An out-
Francis said about the formation of the side newsperson asked whether or not
task group that "we will have consultants Stony Brook will be responsible for future
from the state departments, but we also liability. Marburger said, "we have a chance
want people who have no connection to the to identify the victims with a health ques-
state, we want an unbiased opinion." tionaire to people we know had class in
According to Francis, tests on 168 hours Javits... we have everyone's names."
of air samples will be taken to determine the When Marburger was asked what he
exact volume of chemicals present in the air thought of NYPIRG's efforts so far he said,
in order to insure that no air did break from "My feelings are mixed. NYPIRG has pro-
the ventilation. The cost of testing so far in vided good information and raised consci-
the building exceeds $25,000, paid by the encious issues by taking samples and rec-
university, and is expected to reach $50,000 ommending more samples." But he added,
by the time cleaning and testing are fini- ('ontinued on page 13
Concrete knowledge of Polity's functions vation or initiative, this indicates that
is presently not prevalant among students there's a deeper problem. Polity may not be
in general One can blame non-involvement doing anything worthwhile that a student
by students or non-interest on their part. wants to get involved in, because what
But Gunning indicated that the problem they're doing doesn't demonstrate that stu-
could be Polity's inability (in chiding him- dent interest and concern are needed.
self) to effectively communicate with stu- Some say what's being communicated
dents. He alluded to the fact that there are doesn't effect students' psyches because
9,086 students and that Polity, which has a their orientation to Polity gives them the
far smaller number of active members, impression that petitioning is not some-
must work harder to disseminate informa- thing their cowering student government
tion. does to get real needs accomplished, but
Gerry Brouard, a former presidential what other groups like the Graduate Stu-
candidate, said, "Gunning didn't make a dent Organization does to get things
State of the Campus report like he was done.
supposed to." But Brouard said, "even if he Gunning did concretely establish the
didn't do this, he should have written more Student Activities Advisory Board
press releases." (S.A.A.B.) to deal with programming prob-
Gunning, who hasn't fared well with this lems. It's primary function is to coordinate
problem, has been trying to remedy it. He is the activities of programming organizations
backing a proposal to have a study break like COCA and SAB to eliminate conflicts
applying to class schedules across the in scheduling
Following this came the creation of a
board. This would supposedly make time
for an increase in participation and com- monthly calendar of events which is avail-
munication between the student body, and able to students.
Polity, as well as faculty and administra- SAAB didn't seem to demonstrate its
effectiveness on the night S.A.B. aired the
tors.
Such a study break would call for a period Hagler-Leonard fight in the gym and Split
of about one or two hours, starting about Image simultaneously hosted a comedy act.
noontime, once a week. This would be bene- The $2 charge did offer an alternative to the
ficial to the commuter population, as well, $30 charge for the fight and fulfills Gun-
ning's other promise to increase activities.
since it wouldn't take place at night.
Regarding his last promise, Gunning
Aiiona Jonaitis, Vice Provost for Under-
graduate Studies, said, "Marc has come said, "I was naive in thinking that I could
,forward suggesting that this idea be initi- better the food quality on the meal plan."
ated," and that she was working to see that However maintenance of the food quality
Sit comes to fruition. level is monitored.
Many students believe that real student Gunning's control of meal plan price in-
aware 4t-ss comes from involvement and if creases is not direct, but comes from stu-
the problem is that students aren't involved dents appinted to F.S.A., which approves
with Polity because they don't have moti- ,'Io0inuud ont pu c 1I
May 14, 1987 page 3
 Student Polity Association
Applications now available
for SSAB Chair and Members
(Summer)
* SAB Chairperson
* SAB Concert Chair
* SAB Activities Chair
* MPB Chair
* Summer COCA Chair
* COCA Chair
Applications available in the Polity
Suite (see Barbara). Deadline
2:00pm May 15

* Attention *
Summer
Students

WANTED
for Summer Session Activities
Board Committee

Apply in Person in the Polity Suite

Union Room 258
632-6460
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 - The Third Estate: Viewpoints
by Esther S. Lastique
No heat No hot water. Showers that don't work. Toilets
that don't flush. Dorm life at Stony Brook. These are five
things that Stony Brook residents are familiar with, angry
with, but familiar. What very few people are aware of is that
it doesn't have to be this way. At the beginning of the 1986-
1987 academic year, a new system called Dormitory Suf-
ficiencywas instituted throughout the SUNY system. What
it entailed isthis- all the money residents pay as dorm fees
goes directly to the buildings we live in The dormitories are
now self-sufficient SUNY no longer receives state funds
forthe upkeep of the dormitories. What this really means to
us is that we are paying full rent on sub-standard (and in G
and H Quads, temporary) buildings without the privelege of
a formal lease of specified rights. No-one would pay almost
$2000 ($1950 is the projected dorm fee for the'87-'88 year)
for a room that could be considered a slum, especially
without a lease outlining the rights of the tenant
Well Stony Brook students are doing something about
this I am proud to say that with my co-president Rich Luco,
a new organization has been founded to bring to light our
rights as Stony Brook residents. Housing Environmental,
and Living Problems is a Polity sponsored group of stu-
dents who are working towards improving living conditions
on our campus and who are lobbying for the finalizing of a
true housing contract This would be a lease describing
exactly what the University owes us as tenants for the
money we are paying, unlike the terms of occupance which
we all sign, which only contain what we owe the university,
Basically, we stand behind our acronym- HELP is finally
here for the Stony Brook residents.
On April 22, at 8 a.m., I sat in on every interesting
meeting. The place- Albany, the SUNY Central Building,
The purpose- to propose the possibility of a housing
contract Accompanied by members of the Student Assoc-
iation of the State University of New York, I attended this
meeting to represent HELP, as well as Stony Brook as a
whole. Since I was a new face there, I did not speak person-
ally to the trustees, I only observed. It was quite interesting
to realize just how little these people know of how we live. In
fact, they are so uninformed that they will believe almost
Let Them Eat Eggs
by Kirk Kierkegaard handouts get decreased by the new tax law (besides the
Byline Stony Brook.an interesting new development, a massive cuts infinancial aid he's, thatis, they, have enacted
housing development, right here on the academic malL
Tent-town USA. A.KA. Stage XII Grad Student non-
employee orthe Jack Marburger Memorial Let-Them-Eat-
Cake homes. Let me tell you whats going on. Ronald
Reagan. remember him? Well he had this revolution, yq
know, his tax revolution, well anyway, they, that is, he, that
is, the federal government decided that all movements of
money are taxable incomeJlet me tell you, this sounds
simple but its absolutely crazy for many individuals and.
institution&
You see, the university lives on handouts and now these
_ ___~~_
Lame Ducks and Chicken Soup
by Marc Gunning
Well, another year is ending and another Student Polity
President becomes a lame duck Before I leave though, d
like to share a few minutes with you and express some of my
joys and triumphs as well as my weaknesses and short-
comings as your president Why do I want to do this? Maybe
it will help the newly elected Council avoid the pitfalls that I
fell into, or maybe I just want to get a few things off my
chest
Being the president of the student body was one of the
inost rewarding, and most frustrating experiences of my
life. If I had a dime for everytime that someone said to me
"You're the President-do something .about___
(Student apathy, concerts, dorm conditions, parking
situation, Public Safety officers--whatever, you fill in the
blank.)", rd forget about grad schoolretire and become a
senior citizen at the age of 23.
The Polity President is not a god. I don't possess an
omnipotent control over this university I can't serve on
every committee that needs undergraduate representation,
and I can't make every meeting that gets called on this
campus. In other words, the President of Student Polity
(that's you) cannot be effective unless there are motivated,
H.E.L.P. Me!
anything that is told to them- true or otherwise. Maybe
this is why they believed President Marburger (SUNY
presidents were also present at this meeting) when he told
them that tenants' rights groups, and student solidarity
working towards those rights, are working well and improv-
ing conditions here at Stony Brook Let me enlighten you-
he was wrong. Even though HELP is in existence, we are
only about one month old, and unknown to Marburger.
Whoever he was talking about, and whatever improvements
he mentioned, were either a total concoction, or the result of
the sad fact that he actually believed the lies that someone
else has told him. Stony Brook is known throughout the
SUNY system as the school with the worst living conditions
and the highest dorm fees. It is unfortunate that our pres-
ident doesn't realize the graity of our situation.
Another interesting thing that occured at this meeting
was the presence of the press, and the resulting anger of the
Chair of the Board of Trustees. When the student govern-
ment president of SUNY Albany rose to speak, the press
jumped at his every word. Well, the trustees were quite
upset, and the Chair demanded several times that the press
leave the meeting, in spite of the fact that Trustee meetings
are open to the public. The Chair became so angry that he
called the press' presence a circus, and stated that there
was nothing on the agenda important enough to warrant
press coverage.
Well, to him, maybe not But to the press, the possibility
of a housing contract and the act of students fighting for
their rights was important enough for them to be there.
Maybe only the press remembers what it was like to be in
school, and to feel as if you can't fight the system. That's
why they were there, because we are fighting it; and we're
winning.
Directly following this meeting, SASU sponsored a press
conference in the lobby of SUNY Central This is where
HELP made its press debut Reading from a testimony that
I prepared at 4 am. (which was when we arrived in Albany).
I proceeded to enlighten the press about Stony Brook.
Needless to say, they were quite shocked, as well they
should have been. Not only did they agree that our living
conditions
.. are
I denlorable. butthat it is Ialso uite unsettinz
over the past six or seven years). The new tax law cripples
the university on the levels of the students, faculty, and
administration My first year of college I received $5000 in
grants See what I mean?
Anyway, underthe new tax law, graduate students will be Editor's note: Since this article was submitted the GSO has
responsible for taxes on their stipends and probably their cancelled the work stoppage in return for a one thousand
tuition waivers So a rally ensued, and a strike, and now dollar increase in the graduate student stipend This increa
graduate students take residence outside the Admin Build- is one thousand dollars less than the GSO was requesting
ing, Mismangement? Short-sightedness? Who knows? Al 'with funding to come from the upcoming research initiatiut
we know is that things wi get hotter and hotter as graduate grant). Shanty Town, Stony Brook still continues to exis
students see thatthey are taking anywhere from a $1000 to however....
. oI
energetic students who will work with and support him.
That did not happen this year. There were very few people
who were willing to do more than the absolute minimum
that was expected of them. Apathy was not only a problem
for the students, it was prevalent among student "leaders"
also. It seems that student involvement is becoming a thing
of the past Those few students that do care often end up
aking over the responsibilities of others, and work long
hours to make needed changes in the organization.
'Burnout", the scourge of Student Polity, rears its ugly
head
Many students ask me "so what does it mean to be the
Polity President?" They are often surprised at my answer-
it means going to 1 to3 meetings(each lasting 14 to 2 hours)
everyday. It means having 8 to 10 messages, 4 or 5 memos,
and 6 to 8 pieces of mail waiting for you when you walk into
the office. It means listening to people complain about
PSC, administration, dorm conditions, the weather, or just
about anything that can be remotely connected to Polity. It
means making decisions that need to be made, even if '.-a
know that they won't be popular. It means getting phone
calls an hour after you go tobedandan hour before you re
mmoomm
that our president is doing nothing to end our plight As we
discovered later on, the major newspapers and Albany's
NBC affiliates covered the story. This showed us one more
detail- that our situation was important enough to cover,
and to be covered by some of the best people in the
buisness.
Well, that meeting was a number of weeks ago now. At
first, we believed thatmaybe we didn'taccomplish anything
but one long night with no sleep. And then the results
started coming in. One day, I got a phone call from the vice-
president of SASU. As she put it, the state legislature was
humming. Why?. Because Stony Brook made an appear-
ance. Not only was our presence unexpected, so was our
determination. When I spoke at the press conference, I
challenged the Board of Trustees, I demanded a housing
contract, because it is our undeniable right as tenants, and
totally necessary as students. HELP has now become a
known entity to the state legislature, and they are now
keeping a watchful eye on a once apathetic Stony Brook. I
hope to meet with our state senator and one of the trustees
before the semester is out, and maybe show them first-hand
what Stony Brook life is like. Only by communicating with
the true decision-makers can anything be done. This is why
I went to Albany, and why Stony Brook's sudden enthus-
iasm won them over.
The only thing left to say is this- HELP cannot succeed
without the input and devotion of the Stony Brook resi-
Sents. We all want improved conditions, and we all want to
e able to hold the school liable for things that go wrong.
But Albany isn't going to listen to one Stony Brook stu-
dent- whether she's a tenants' rights group president or
not For them to listen to me, I first need to listen to you.
Come work with me, and HELP, and help us improve the
way we live. It can be done, the system can be beaten, if it's
done with the propertools: honesty, truth, and the sincere
belief that our cause is valid. It has to be done, we have to
succeed. Not only for the Stony Brook of today, but for the
Stony
;L Rrook of tomorrow
. 6%
$2000 pay cut next year For $4200 over a ten month
obligation, one would choose to be a janitor for $8.62 as
hour in Chicago, ratherthan teach college Instead of plantk
ing flowers, perhaps the university should feed some of
their tenants.
_ ___ ~~
ready to get up. It means going to nearly every major event,
helping to solve last minute crises that arise while ensuring
that Polity is not incurring legal liabilities. It means working
your butt off.
Don't be fooled, it's not as glamorous as people might
think Do I have any regrets? No, not really. Despite the
frustrations, I like to think that rIve made a difference. Only
history will tell whether that difference will be positive or
negative or whether that difference will be significant Time
will be my judge, but you will be my jury. You are my peers,
my constituents, my friends
All right, enough wallowing in self pity, lets get dowu .
what't been going on. Student Polity has changed a loa
year. We've dismissed our old Executive Dire-a
Attorney, and Accountant and we've hired new people toti
these positions. We've created new positions (Financial
Manager, Public Relations/Publicity Chair), new
committees (Student Activities Advisory Board, Affirm-
ative Action Council), and new avenues of student feed-
back (Student Polity Survey).
We've established ourselves as a responsible, stable
organization to the administration and faculty. We've
('ontinued on page 13M 14,197
Mayl 4, 1987 page 5
 r

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page 6 The Stony Brook Press
 77ý

r v
F-
II• IV•V LPf r %r10, S 0w %K41"0

"Did You Hear That

The Stony Brook Press
.Will Be Publishing.
This Summer?"
join the Press this summer
meetings every monday. night throughout
the summer
8:00 in Central Hall (Old Bio) 042
dmmwmlw=vmý

Classic Catalogue Classes

('ontinued from page 12
(students must provide own scalpel, CAT scan optional).
been tap dancing "off and on" for nine. frxom
Columbia
male University
in for
f4pinching
students and
twisting"
her
"unmentionable
places"
PEC 331 Aerobic Lifeguard Dancing HUM 211 Women's Studies
This course is designed to teach the student not only how to Ms. Heatherton, professor of Women's Studies for eight- Listed below are several proposed courses available
save a potential drowning victim, but how to look good and een years, will illustrate through lectures and slide presen- possibly next year, the year after that, or whenever.
burn off the maximum amount of fat while doing it. The tations just how women were able to become the second
course will be supervised by Leonardo Noche. Mr. Noche most important gender in the Western hemisphere. Ms. PHY 221 Light Rays and Not So Light Rays
has been a Red Cross lifeguard for seventeen years and has Heatherton is a female bodybuilder, and was dismissed HIS 308 History of JeUo BrandGelatin
GEO 108 Earthquakes and their Effects on Picnics
May 14, 1987 page 7
 Mon

by John Dunn
Dunn Deals
Well, it's the last issue of The Press for the semesterand
rm leaving so you know what that means parting shots. I
had intended to do an article on my year at the Brook, but
who really cares about my yea? Instead, I came up with a
way of getting in my parting shots while still entertaining
you, the reader, and making you think Thus, I present to
you The Stony Brook Awards. Each winner will receive a
replica of the famous Brook Shield (hey, that took thought).
In case you're wondering, Fm returning to the University of
Delaware under the auspices of the National Student Ex-
change as a history education major. Now, on with the
awards!
bozo who is so badthat few people can remember who he is The Winner: ProfessorHelenLemay, HIS. Herterrificjob
at this point of advising at transfer orientation day last July gave me the
first inkling that going to Stony Brook might be a mistake.
Best Scheduled Concert that Didn't Occur First she decided that I was going to do things her way. I
Lou Reed with the Smithereens. rm sure that every effort disagreed, deciding to take courses that I wanted to take
was made to reschedule these two instead of booking Paul With that, she went ahead and picked apart my decisions
Young Her opinion of one history course "That'snot of the caliber
of course that we teach at Stony Brook. Its ajoke, all you do
Best Free Concert of the Year is watch films; you mightas well bring popcorn I don'tknow
NRBQ and John Sebastian. Fallfest, 1986. how the professor gets away with teaching it Now this
Best Paid Concert of the Year course, one that I teach, although Im not recommending it
Gil Scott-Heron and Linton Kwesi Johnson at the Fine Arts just because its my course..." Well, I took the film course,
Center. That's how good a year it's been for concerts. found it to be an excellent approach to American history
and received an A. Professor Lemay, I suggest that you
leave personal rivalries with other professors out of course
ecommendations in the future. You turned me off to Stony
trook at its history department before I was officially here,
nd almost caused me to leave then Good job.

Forst Comment by a University Department Work-

r
nd Runner-up: "Did you waita month since your photo
as taken because we don't have it in yet?" said a worker in
ie LD. office in October My photo was taken in July.
at Runner-up: "You can't see him!" said with a note of
idignation by worker in Financial Aid after I asked to see
herwood Johnson After I explained that Admissions had
ent me to see him, she relented with, "Well, he's not in
xday so you can't see him anyway." I saw Mr. Johnson the
ext day when she wasn't there.

he Winnert "'m sorrywe don't dealwith students "Said

y worker in the GIS office after I asked whether she had
nen someone from the admissions office pass by. What a
lique idea at a university, an office that doesn't deal with
udents. Especially one located next to the "Welcome to
tony Brook" sign.

11Believe It When I see It Award

th Runner-up: Harriman College for their buisness
anagement major which was included in the catalogue
.spite still not having approval from Albany, which pre-
mnts students from registering for it
rd Runner-up: WUSB with their AM station designed
wuLbvcr
tt4 -- ^ hL-
"- l I--L
-- I--- -3-- - -
Best Food on Campus er vwvre stuentsai s sscneadue is due soon,
Worst Advertised Concert except for the fact that the new phone system messed up
Runner-up: anything cooked in dorms to avoid those DelFuegosatG-Fest Hey, lefsputanadinthe
Statesman the idea of closed carrier broadcasting (sending radio
ptomaine artists known as DAKA- the Friday before the concert and expect more than 100 signals through existing phone wiring).
The Winner: Stony Brook Pretzel Service The highest people to buy tickets.
2nd Runner-up: The new fieldhouse andhotel convention
quality food on campus at decent prices. For many com-
center. Will they really be converted into freshmen priority
muters, including myself, it is our meal plan. It's a place to Most Popular LIRR Train
housing when completed?
pass time by conversation, playing chess, or merely to pur- The westbound 4:18. Especially on Fridays
filled with 1 st Runner-up: The Patriot. The newspaper of truth
chase a drink and a pretzeL It, along with The Press, were people escaping the Brook Perhaps
Polity could get the from the College Republicans.
the only two things I really liked about my year at Stony LIRR to add a bar car to the consist
The Winner. tenure for Professor Dube, the complete
Brook, so it's doing something right To Mark, Bev, and the
story about the Lecture Center, dorms in decent shape, real
rest of the staff, I bid you a fond adieu. Most Ignored Traffic Sign on Campus food from DAKA, decent and adequate parking for com-
2nd Runner-up: any speed limit sign muters enough money for the Press, ad nauseum..
Biggest Error in the '87/'89 Course Catalogue
I st nunner-up: the stop sign at the corner of Forest and
2nd Runner-up: lsting the buisness management South (heading
out to South P-lot). Best Campus Media
major even though it hasn't been approved by Albany. So if The Winner: the 15
mph speed limit sign on Central 3rd Runner-up: WUSB. Might have made it higher
it' s not approved, this failure will sit in the catalogue for two Drive, in
front of the Union. A cop with a radar could solve except for their general manager who gave me the opinion of
years. What ever happened to the idea of inserts and sup-. Stony Brook's budget
problems, presuming that all uni- "we're doing you a favor by allowing you to join us." I came
plements? versity vehicles were stopped.
1 st Runner-up: leaving the National Student Exchange from a station in Delaware whose attitude was "thank you
out of the catalogue. Granted, it has a staff of one who Biggest Architectural for volunteering your time by joining the station" That's
Blunder the way it should be. I wonder how many other prospective
attends to it in addition to his other duties, along with a 3rd Runner-up:
Health Sciences Center. Not only do the members have been turned off by that attitude.
budget of $1000, but it could have been included. Approx- walls fall down becaus 0
of water seepage, but it's swaying in 2rd Runner-up: Statesman Hey,
imately twenty people are leaving Stony Brook for a year, the wind ' jes wonders it's the college version
with sensitive instruments of Newsday, mostly ads and press service. So there's not
and the same number are coming to Stony Brook from other 2nd Runner-up: Melville
Library.Built completely back- much substance, it's only a campus newspaper. Whatever
schools, but a major which doesn't exist yet gets space. wards right down to such details as the skylights facing happened
to Bloom County? Statesman is the onlypaperI
north.
The Winner: Under campus activities: 'In recent know of to drop a cartoon once it became popular. One
1 St Runner-up: any dorm which is falling apart after
months, popular student sponsored concerts have featured some highlight, the cartoon showing the Bob Francis family
excellent construction techniques known as self-de- throughout
The Ramones, Cyndi Lauper, Lou Reed, Zebra, Elvis history was one of the best pieces run in any
struction architecture Problem, what problem?
Costello, Frank Zappa, Santana, and Eddie Murphy.' The Winnero paper this year.
Since it typifies Stony Brook the best, the I st Runner-up: Blackword
Whoa, talk about false advertising! Recent months? Try Bridge
to Nowhere gets the award. It best represents ad- a small staff
which does a fine job despite
recent years At least they didn't include The Jefferson ministration's and student unawareness of it Excellent
attitpde of going somewhere when in reality, coverage
Airplane and The Grateful Dead, the latter of whom last going nowhere. of the Dube affair, plus they inhabit the basement
appeared at Stony Brook on Halloween, 1970. Whaft's the of Old Bio as opposed to the other runner-ups who occupy
matter? Don't want to point out Paul Young as an attrac- Worst Advising the Union
by a Faculty Member The Winner. The Press. (whoa, whatta surprise!) The
tion? Runner-up:ProfessorEliSeifnan,SSI After talkingwith
other thing besides the Stony Brook Pretzel Service that I
him for five minutes about Stony Brook's social studies
Student Group Not Alienated by Administration This teacher preparation liked.about Stony Brook. A superior product with un un-
program, discussing course offerings believably
Year talented staff Any campus can have a paper like
along with my own career objectives, the first thing he asked
Unfortunately there are no nominees for this category as me was "That's an interesting Statesman, but there's only one Press From editorials to
watch you have on What features, arts, and
every possible segment of the student body has been type is it?" Great, I just in-depth coverage on things like the
talked to a desk for five minutes. For
alienated by the administration this past year. the record, it's a black Nelsonic Quartz with both analogue Polity candidates, there's no competition. And of course,
and digital timepieces. Professor Seifman gave me so much there's the cartoons: Billboards, the Crypt, and the famous
Worst Scheduled Concert confidence in Stony Brook's program, with his intense Time Trippers, now a Stony Brook institution (like the
Paul Young While other schools on the Island were getting interest in what I was saying; artist). Since everyone now agrees that the Press is so
I was so impressed that rm wonderful
quality entertainment Stony Brook goes with a Top 40 headed back to Delware. and necessary (in caseyou didn'tknow, the Polity
page 8 The Stony Brook Press survey indicated that the Press is considered the publi-

Devastating Damnations
cation of highest quality on campus by the students) how
about putting pressure on Polity so that the Press can
afford to come out every week and pay its typesetters a
decent wage (or at least minimum wage).
Golden SPAM Award
Presented by the campus paragraph (to small to be a
chapter) of Students Promoting Academic Mediocrity, the
Golden SPAM Award is given annually to the university
official who has best furthered the cause of turning Stony
Brook into a mediocre school This years winner is Dr.
Robert Francis, vice-president of campus operations, for
his work, comment and actions in trying to create a more
mediocre campus Congratulations Dr. Francis!
time for what you've all been waiting
And with that, it's
for: the quotes of the year by university officials Just sit
back, relax, and read what the people whose salaries you
pay said this past year.
Understatement/Prophet of the Year
President Marburger, at an affirmative action meeting
September24, withhis statement"Weare goingthroughan
interesting period at Stony Brook.." Two days later there
was a small fire in a janitor's closet at the Lecture Center
and an interesting period was indeed gone through.
Get Rid of Those Pesky Undergraduates
President Marburgers interesting statement "Stony
Brook has too many undergraduates for its mission, and not
enough graduate students. We would like to increase the
ratio of graduates to undergraduates from the currentvalue
of 1:5 to 1:3 during the next five years" Perhaps Marburger
hasn'tnoticed, but graduate students have been a tadupset
about a lack of funding. Thus if the number of graduate
students can not be increased, the number of undergrad-
uates will be decreased for President Marburger's plan to
work Well, rm doing my part to help the president, rm
leaving Stony Brook.
Aldona Jonaitis, vice-provost for undergraduate studies in
the April 27 Campus Currents:
"We have excellent undergraduates here. Now we must
focus on them in order to give them what they need as
paying customers." With intelligence like this, a short-
coming in the administration, she is my nominee to become
president of Stony Brook in a few years. She wants to assign
each undergraduate to his/her own faculty advisor who
would be available to help from the first day on campus,
until graduation. This was point two of my last article. More
intelligence. Only vice-provost
However, one problem. She went on to say in the article
that"night courses are taught by university faculty, rather
than by part-time teachers so evening students don't feel
like second-class citizens." Excuse me, pray tell what are
the undergraduates who are taught by graduate students.
Are we second-class citizens because we are not taught by
full-time faculty? Then again, graduate students generally
teach as manv classes as full-time faculty...
She redeems herself by saying that she misses having
direct contact with students As she says about her present he was welcomed to seek tenure at other SUNYs.
job, "I get to worry about students again, interact with
them, think about what it means to be educated as an
undergraduate." Boy, we could have used her during the
Lecture Center disaster. I _hope she lasts in an admini-
stration which appears not to care about its students.
Comments on the Javits Lecture Center Fire
Health and Safe- Sure.
George Marshall, Chief of Environmental
professors change the classrooms?" Here a
ty-"Why don't
common administration tactic is used: place the blame on year. The winner is classic, not likely to be equaled for quite
someone else.
-Imrkop
President Marburger."I believe Dr. Francis' original judg-
ment regarding the condition and safety of the room was a
correct one."
Robert Francis, vice-predident of campus operations,
showed some real intelligence and research with his com-
ments. Here's the beginning of his reign of error:
"I did not feel that there was any cause for alarm about any
long-term effects...it's possible, looking backward, that I
could have been wrong." Said in October, he held the same
position in April
More reign of error.
"Carcinogens may not cause cancer."
When asked why tests for certain chemicals were not
performed, Dr. Francis responded that he "didn't think
George Marshall thought they were important" Good thing
Dr. Francis has telepathy and didn't have to ask George
Marshall
When faced with the possibility of a law suit due to
mutagens, Francis responded, "I have no feelings about
this at all" This seems to represent his feelings about
student difficulties in general
"I think it (testing for asbestos) is absolutely specious
and unnecessary. I am going to forget I said that We are
going to test for asbestos..."
"You had a choice No-one forced you [the studentsl to
enter to building."
"I had no doubt that the air [from the firel did not travel
beyond room 102."
"..the smell breathed by students did contain chemicals."
If you put those two together, then the smell students felt
in a wide radius around the Lecture Center contained
chemicals from the fire in room 102.
My favorite comments made by Dr. Francis came at the
forum on the Lecture Center fire held April 23.
When I asked him whether it was school policy to allow
students to remain in a room where a fire had occured while
it was being determined whether or not the air was safe to
breathe, he had nothing to say. When I asked why proc-
lamations were made saying it was safe, there was no
problem, no asbestos, no chemicals, there was no response.
And when I asked why the orginal forum was scheduled the
Friday afternoon preceding Spring Break, there was no
response. He will still not admit he made a mistake in
allowing classes to remain in the rooms despite President
Marburger saying it was a mistake. Dr. Francis responded
to an earlier question at the forum by saying that "I prob-
ably would not have done the same things in retrospect"
How about 'I was wrong, I made a mistake, I apologize'?
Of course there were other things which administration
could make dim-witted comments about The Dube deba-
cle is a classic. Despite being approved by four committees,
Professor Dube was denied tenure at Stony Brook although
If you want to seethe complete disaster, ask Blackworld
for a back issue. President Marburger's office released the
following on the affair "It [Wharton's decision to deny
tenurel also acknowledges the responsibility the university
has to protect its faculty from inappropriate external influ-
ences." Somehow administration expected us to believe
that outside influences had nothing to do with decision.
Well you've read all the runners-up for the quote of the
a while. The award for Most Assinine Statement Made
mmýý
by a University Official goes to Dr. Robert Francis, for his
masterpiece on dorm heat Take it away Dr. Francis...
"This is not a situation where we have no heat We have
inadequate heat As soon as the temperature [outside]
moderates, we should be back to normal"
Now there's real intelligence. I suppose if there was no
heat, the residents of Whitman, Mount, and Hendrix would
have had ice on the walls Some consolation. And rm sure
that once the temperature outside got above 70 degrees,
the rooms started to heat up. rm glad that Dr. Francis gets
paid $72,510 to make comments like that which build up
student morale.
Before everyone gets the idea that I hate everyone in the
administration building, that's not true. There are a few
competent people in the building. Max Mobley, assistant
director of admissions and NSE co-ordinator has been very
helpful, as has Sherwood Johnson, Director of Financial
Aid. Most of the secretaries have been helpful Aldona
Jonaitis appears to be competent However, all of these
people are outnumbered.
Now it's time for my most controversial award, the Most
Likely to Resign/Be Relieved of Job/Fired in the Near
Future Award
Since the winner is pretty obvious, I start with the
nominees: President Marburger and his staff, and Dr.
Robert Francis. First Marburger.
Perhaps a little far-fetched; its worth some support
Things have been happening the past few years and SUNY
Central has been watching. A recent report said that people
about to be fired don't have their calls answered or get
taken out to lunch. I wonder why Marburger is having
trouble getting funding from Albany. Hmmm. rm sure
SUNY Central has been impressed with administration's
handling of the Lecture Center disaster, the Dube debacle
and the ongoing problems with grad. students. Things are
supposed to have improved since the Toll administration.
Great, but things are supposed to go from bad to good, not
from worse to bad. Imagine a company who had declining
sales for a few years and a fire at one of its factories. The
company delayed in moving workers out and then denied
anything wrong with the factory. Next it denied a promotion
to a black executive despite internal recommendations. To
top everything else off, workers were starting to strike more
and more, demanding better working conditions and pay.
You'd say that the company was in trouble and perhaps new
management should be brought in. Sounds like Stony
Brook, doesn't it?
Undergraduate enrollment has been declining, yet in-
stead of coming up with a solution to solve the problem,
Marburger decides to replace those undergraduates with
graduates. I suppose they'll live in Marburgerville outside
administration's offices. Any guesses as to why undergrad-
uate enrollment is declining? Professors who are pressured
to do research, not teach. Dorms in abominable conditions.
Concentration upon the sciences and research Imagine you
are a parent on a campus tour. "The smell? Oh that's from
the fire. The boycott signs? Well it may not be completely
safe. Yes, the school is allowing students to attend clas-
ses."
" Why does it say SUNY at Soweto? Why is the admini-
stration building locked while students are shouting 'Ten-
ure for Dube'? Why are those students on strike?"
This and my last article should give you some ideas, Mr.
President Unless some definite answers are provided and a
plan presented to SUNY Central soon, you may not have to
worry about making such a plan. Surely there is a candidate
for your job who can solve Stony Brook's problems. You
had the few transition years to play with Now the actions
you take can only be blamed on one person: yourself The
students, faculty, and taxpayers of this state, who provide
you$85,680 and provide you with Shorewood, demand that
Stony Brook receives competent management with solu-
tions to its problems. One can blame things on others and
lack of funding for only so long. It is what you do with funds
you receive that counts. Why are bushes being planted,
while the campus libraries lose hundreds of volumes due to
water leaks? Short-term solutions are not the answer, look
at this campus and its hurried construction and what is
happening to it now.
You like to point to the reputation that Stony Brook is
gaining in magazines. Im sure some faculty around the
country would recommend Stony Brook But Stony Brook's
reputation is sinking ever faster among those who count
most local high school students. The closer the high school
to Stony BRook, the worse Stony Brook's reputation. High
school students are not as naive as you seem to think They
are not fooled by the promotional propaganda thrown at
them. They can see the living conditions on the campus.
Continued on page 12
May14, 1987 page9
 - I -- -- MM

Student Polity Association I- -

0C~;

Congratulations
To
Graduating
Seniors
I , ~I _
I, - , ~araE~-~P.rceeE,,-- ~P~a~----b--- -- ;c~-r- ~L-~-·PI·L_--F -r^--,_~--·---ssrsL~ - _ u - ~glBRF~B~Yasla, ~BB~F~s__ I _ I m

Did
You
Get
Sick Polity Hotline
In is trying to
help those suf-
Javits fering from
the after
effects of the
u
fire. Please
call us at
632-6474.

I - - · - I · 'I -, · I ' I '' I

Jpage 10 The Stony Brook Press
 StudentI Polity
~I I Association
ATTENTION:
In November of 1985, SAB speakers
used a poster for a John Valby
engagement. The artwork for the
posters was done by Anthony Detres for
a previous John Valby engagement
(October 1983) and was revised without
authorization. Mr. Detres' name was
deleted from the second poster and the
artwork was credited toa 'D.C. Boggs', a
psuedonym invented by SAB speakers.
As such, Mr. Detres receved no credit
for the artwork.
STUDENT POITY PUBIUCLY APOLOGIZES
for any undue embarrasment that said
substitution may have caused him.
Furthemore, Student Polity apologizes
for the Irresponsible actions of
Individuals Involved with Student Polity
at that time.
CLASSIFIED: The birthday
celebration starts in Septem-
ber. DON'T FORGET YOUR
PARTY FAVORS. Love, 01,
Blue Eyes - See you at Fall
Fest. HAPPY 30th, STONY
BROOK.
I remember it was Senior Week-
end '86! Now it's SENIOR
WEEKEND '87! Meet me ON
MAY 22nd AND 23rd. I need
you for security, food and
beverage serving and cleanup.
If you're interested leave your
name and phone numberin the
Polity Suite. Ask for me, I
Craig, CRAIG LEVINE. See
Ya!

Best Wishes for a safe and

happy summer, from your
friends at Student Polity
Marc Gunning (President)
Lisa Miller (Treasurer)
GE0rry Shaps (Vice President)
Andrea Best (Secretary)
C,raig Levine (Senior Rep.)
Lisa Garcia (Junior Rep.)
Larice Mankowski (Soph. Rep.)
Steve Rosenfeld (Freshman Rep.)
I~ -II-- - , II I · - - - - , - -, May 14, 1987 page I
- w
 - ____
- 1_ sl __I
MilMilllllMilB

Dunn's Damnations
('ontinued from page 9
Stony Brook receives competent management with solu-
tions to its problems. One can blame things on others and
lack of funding for only so long. It is what you do with funds
you receive that counts. Why are bushes being planted,
while the campus libraries lose hundreds of volumes due to
water leaks? Short-term solutions are not the answer, look
at this campus and its hurried construction and what is
happening to it now.
You like to point to the reputation that Stony Brook is
gaining in magazines. fm sure some faculty around the
country would recommend Stony Brook. But Stony Brook's
reputation is sinking ever faster among those who count
most: local high school students. The closer the high school
to Stony BRook, the worse Stony Brook's reputation. High
school students are not as naive as you seem to think. They
are not fooled by the promotional propaganda thrown at
them. They can see the living conditions on the campus.
They hear what it's like attending Stony Brook from
friends. They read the papers and read on strikes and
alleged racism, of fires in lecture halls. That is the group of
people where Stony Brook's real reputation is measured.
But then again, since you declared that Stony Brook has too
many undergraduates for its mission, it really doesn't mat-
ter what they think.
To quote the movie Network, "We're mad as hell, and
we're not going to take it anymore!" We, the university
community, will pressure our state assemblymen and sen-
ators to look at how the taxpayers money is being mis-
managed. We will pressure SUNY Central to take a closer
look at how its alleged flagship is being run. We will pres-
sure them until you or your replacement takes some con-
structive action to solve Stony Brook's problems. Good
luck in trying to come up with the solutions President
Marburger'
Unfortunately, if anyone goes, it will be a lesser person,
someone designated as the scapegoat for Stony Brook's
problems. That's why Dr. Robert Francis gets my nom-
ination as most-likely-to-be-let-go. There are numerous
reasons as to why, see the quotes section. He reached new
depths in insensitivity to students with his comments. He
has become the Joe Isuzu of Stony Brook. Ill be mild and
say that whenever he says something, students take it with a
grain of salt. Most people would have shut up after all the
comments he made during the Lecture Center disaster, but
not our Bob. He continued his reign of error with his in-
famous comment on dorm heat. To quote the phrase that
the whole campus knows, "Problem, I don't see a prob- In it Joe Caponi reflected that the administration has no
lem." realistic plan to improve the school, and they don't know
what's happening in the classrooms and dorms. He reflect-
Unfortunately, Dr. Francis, many of us see a problem ed that the administration really doesn't care. That's the
with the way you earn your $72,510. Why you still have your sad part about Stony Brook it's run by people who seem
job after your actions on the Lecture Center, I don't know. not to care about the students. That's just the leadership
You should consider resigning before someone above you that Stony Brook needs. Or is it?
does it for you. You allowed students to attend classes in a This may be my last article for the Press, so I hope you
location not proven to be safe until some time later, if then. enjoyed it as well as possibly making you think. While I may
You over-ruled everyone from fire marshalls to the student be doing some writing during the summer, and perhaps a
government You showed no capability to handle a serious column from Delaware, it is unlikely that I shall return to
situation and have allowed the university to have law suits Stony Brook, especially after the articles that I've written
starting to mount against it because of your actions. If you during the past few issues. To those of you who remain,
had great difficulty answering the questions of students at a good luck You'll need it. Want to comment on this article?
forum, how could you answer the questions of a state invest- Drop by the Stony Brook Pretzel Service, rll probably be
igation into your conduct during the Lecture Center dis- hovering close by...
aster?
Few, if any, students have any faith in what you say, and
rm sure that many faculty feel the same way. The fact that
President Marburger should have stepped in and ordered
the Lecture Center closed does not lessen the gravity of
President Continued from page 5
your actions. An administrator truly concerned about both
students and faculty would have ordered the center closed actively fought for better parking conditions, rebates on
and classes moved elsewhere. The gym, the HSC, any- dormitory fees for Roth quad residents who did not have
where, until the place was determined safe for classes. You heat and hot water, student voting rights, and better study
seemed to be unconcerned about the students, after all, facilities and space, and we've been very involved with the
they don't give you your paycheck But we do give you the ongoing Javits Lecture Center Crisis.
money in that paycheck, and if we are "paying customers", I As rve said before, it hasn't been easy. fm grateful to
believe a great number of us would like a refund. those who helped make it bearable: Lisa Miller, Student
Polity Treasurer, who works long, hard hours with little or
If all of my comments have ruffled some feathers in the no credit just so she can provide needed services for the
administration, good. Now you people know what it's like on students; Irene Agostino, Financial Manager and Joanne
the receiving end. Marburger sees Stony Brook as becom- Young, SCOOP Executive Director, two of the most
ing the Berkeley of the East (why not make Berkeley the dedicated and hard working people that I have ever met;
Stony Brook of the West?). He's accomplished the protest and Virginia Boone, who came out of retirement to help us
part of that quite well, don't you think? What did you do, in our hour of need Thanks also go to BarbaraBroderick,
Jack, imagine yourself in Time Trippers and trip back to Rosemary Lauterbur,Judi Segall, Marsha Feldman and the
Stony Brook, circa 1970? I suppose the next thing he'll want Council for all their hardwork and support Thanks also go
from students is to burn down the Computing Center, at- to Dan Coulter, Christine Wolf Rob Schacter, Jeff Altman,
tack Public Safety vehicles, and trash his office. That Chris Scaduto, Bill Fox, Ed Gabalski and everyone else who
should really help Stony Brook's reputation. At least-there puts in time at Polity. You've been a great bunch to work
won't be student apathy. Friendship Day was a real success, with.
and all the graduate students gathered in the Admin. Good luck to all on your finals and I wish you success in
Building to show their friendship for the administration. the future. Ifts 4:30 in the morning and rve beenup now for
How nice. 21 hours. I get up in 3% hours to start a new day. rm tired,
Those of you who wi,h to see an indepth critique of the cranky, and sarcastic. fm also glad that I had the oppor-
administration can pick up a March 20 issue of the Press. tunity to serve as your president-thank you.
- ----- I MWN-m-mmum-f

Daughters of Radiation Parkin' Blues

by Steven Translateur
Graduate students at Stony Brook are receiving an aver-
age of six thousand dollars for their annual stipend One
wonders how a grad. student can afford to eat To find out
what grad. students were doing for food, I took an informal
survey. The following are grad. student answers to the
question "What do you do for food?"
Eric (philosophy): Food? Who needs it? I figure grad.
school will only take me another two years. I can easily
survive without a meal until I graduate.
Bob (economics): I have a buisness agreement with the
rats that live in my apartment I let them live with me, and
they let me share in whatever parcels of food they find.
Lisa (biology): I don't know why everyone's having so
much trouble finding food. There's plenty of free food
available right on the campus itself; there are almost limit-
-
less nutritious meat and vegetable dishes one can make out
of tree bark, grass, and sleeping undergraduates.
Al (pre-med): Ill eat anything I can get my hands on. Oh,
and by the way, I want to make it clear that I had nothing to
do with the stolen cadaver limbs in the forensic lab.
Debbie (chemistry, annual stipend: $10,000): Last night
I had sushi, and the night before I had filet mignon at
Cookie's.
Janet(anatomy, standing tall at5' 11"): rm actually gla
that I can't afford food; it's helping me to lose weight I now
weigh a sexy seventy-five pounds
Mitch (jointAMS, EE, and ECO): I usually grab a bite to
eat at the Union garbage pails For lunch today, I had a
banana peel, a plastic wrapper, and a styrofoam cup.
Mike (EE): I eat ALLFOODTABS
Dave (Physics): For lunch, I bombard a packet of dirt
with high energy protons and wait until the dirt'smolecular
structure is rearranged into that of a salami sandwich on
rye.
Rob (Art): I paint colorful food scenes on canvas and
then I eat the canvas. It's not too nutritious, but it fills me
up.
So what has been the administration's response to the
graduate students difficulties in finding food? "Well," one
official commented, "let them eat DAKA.."
What are graduate students going to do for food in the
future? George, an English student answered this question
in verse, "If the administration doesn't raise our stipend
further, the next thing rm going to eat is a CHEESEMAR
BURGER."

Ever Take This Class?

by Joe Cheffo
The following is list of courses that, for one reason or
another, were accidentally omitted from the 1987/1989
Undergraduate Bulletin. The Press is presenting this
supplement as a public service to its readers.
PEC 181 Unsocial Dance
The development of basic unsocial dance techniques and
theories behind them. This course will focus specifically on
ways of maximizing your potential to humiliate yourself and
others, piss off the host or hostess, and make the DJ want to
become a television and refrigeration repairman.
page 12 The Stony Brook Press
PHI 619 Post Metaphysics
This advanced level course is meant for philosophy majors
only. Because no-one has ever written anything on the
topic, there will be no readings. Also, because-the professor
can never really know for sure whether or not there is such a
subject, class will never be held. If you have any questions,
the instructor can be reached at his home by means of
mental telepathy (or you can just call him).
PEC 598 Bare-fisted Full-contact Ju-Jitsu
Advanced level study consisting of one hour reading, one
hour lecture, and two hours bloody, bone-crushing combat.
All of those who refuse to fight will be used for target
practice. The course will presided over by Master Choo
Chew Yu, 8th degree black-belt and convicted felon four
times (Master Chew Yu's rap sheet is available upon
request).
BIO 244 Neurosurgery
This hands-on course will explore all the basic areas of
modern neurosurgery as well as in-depth studies in various
new and exciting techniques (many experimental) that have
come on the scene in recent years. The special certificate
that you will receive at the end of this course in adjunct to
the credits will enable you to open up your own neurosur-
gery practice immediately anywhere in New York State
( ontinucd on page 6
 - r . . . ..
Dear Eros,
rm planning to use some type of birth
control that is inserted into thie vagina, like
the diaphragm, the sponge, or the foam.
Does that interfere with urixnation in any
way?
--Lisa Miller
No, not at all Urine is releiased from the
urethra, which is separate fro m the vagina,
o-ww%&-
.0.'"
CARP Crap
To the Editor.
I was verbally assaulted today by a wo-
man from CARP, Wednsday, April 22. In-
forming fellow undergraduates that this or-
ganization was really associated with the
Unification Church; the slang for its mem-
bers is "moonies". This older woman, ap-
proximately 35 years old, then began claim-
ing I was prejudiced against "niggers",
"jews",and others. I found such racial term-
inology quite offensive, and my own vocab-
ulary didn't indicate any such tendencies.
Yet I was accosted by an older person in my
own Union. As an undergraduate here, I
receive few "extra frills". I consider free-
dom of speech to a be a basic necessity.
Additionally, many students on campus,
including myself for a while, do not know
what kind of crap CARP is putting out
However, as an aware human being, one
knows that there is no such thing as a "free
lunch". Fancy shows in the Union Ballroom
and free dinners do not require an admis-
sion; Polity does not fund this club. Where
are their funds coming from?
The love and good feelings offered by this
group are quite tempting especially at this
time of the semester. CARP and other
groups like them will use your need to be
loved. It is easy to accept their smiles,
balloons, and companionship. But every-
thing costs in the real world, and any true
Death
Cancer
Continued from page 3
"they particularly overemphasised the dio-
xins and they were irresponsible for two
reasons, one for telling people to get blood
tests, and two for using scare tactics to
frighten students to the point where they
may fear for their lives." Drury explained
that, "Our goal is to insure student safety
and provide conscientious decisions. Even
though NYPIRG may be referred to in
posters that exhibit 'scare tactics' we did
not authorize it and there will be no blood
tests. We don't know enough to warrant
such a thing but we still think the building
should be closed."
At the end of the meeting Marburger
announced that people should blame all the
errors in all the decision making on himself.
"'Whoever made a mistake, its me, the
president, and let's stipulate that I made all
the decisions. I made an error in allowing
students in before the building was totally
cleaned... my mistake."
The vagina is a muscular tube 4 to 5 inches
long that connects the uterus with the out-
side of the body. Except for the tiny cervical
canal opening, the vagina is a dead-end
passageway. It is an exit for menstrual
discharge and babies. The urinary opening
is slightly above the vagina. Urinating while
wearing a diaphragm, sponge, or foam will
not interfere with the effectiveness of these
methods of birth control
friends ihip takes time. Perhaps organiza-
based on a minimum of eight hours work per
tions li ke the Unification Church wouldn'tweek, though students can request to take
be abl e to seduce us students if we sup-
ported and informed ourselves.
more credits during a semester if their work
entails more hours. Internship credits can
also be earned for work on publications that
Sincerely, are not based on campus. I know of one
Michelle Lynn Teichne~. student who received credit for working on
C op pi g
icredit
*rI
C re t
To the Editor.
In a n article that otherwise raised some
good siuggestions, John Dunn totally missed
the mairk on one suggestion (Get your Shit
Togeth er Already, April 20).
In p roposal number six, Dunn asks that
consid eration be given to giving students
internship credit for working on the campus
media SHe suggests that "perhaps through
the deapartment of English, students who
work fFor campus publications and WUSB
would receive college credit for their in-
volven aent" Where has he been? Staff
memb ers and editors at Statesman have
been receiving this exact type of internship
credit for two years now, right through the
English department, which provides up to
twleve upper division credits for work on
the newspaper.
Each student works with afaculty advisor
from the English departmentand an agency
supervisor, who is a representative from the
paper where the student is interning. Stu-
dents receive three credits per semester,
Who
Me?
Continued from page 3
contracts with the University Food Service.
This year, FSA paid $75,000 to Daka, foot-
ing a bill that student's would've paid if
Daka made its then proposed increase in
prices.
-In a reated issue, Gunning and Hillary
Garskoff staved off plans by Francisand Dr.
Fred Preston to force another building onto
the mandatory meal plan. The plan was
considered by Francis and Preston because
forecasts showed dorm cooking revenues
wouldn't break even with costs to run the
program, which includes paying students
and otherservices to remove garbage. Fran-
cis was asked' to re-evaluate the budget
forecast and found it unnecessary to go to
the mandatory meal plan.
Gunning, who ran for president because
he wanted, "to make a difference," says at
the end of his term that he's frustrated and
probably won't pursue politics further.
"'You feel you're trying your best but there
i il i i I I I I III I I III
Dear Eros,
I am worried about being impotent Can
you tell me more about this occurence?
-- Gerry Shaps
There are two types of impotence: pri-
mary, in which the man has never had the
ability to maintain an erection long enough
to have intercourse, and three secondary
types of impotence: persistent, situational,
and episodic.
There are possible psychological causes
for impotence; some men worry so much
about not being able to achieve an erection
that they can not have one. There are also
possible physical/organic causes for impo-
tence such as birth defects, certain drugs,
and injury to the penis
Men should have a thorough medical
testing to find out if the cause of the impo-
tence is psychogenic or organic. If the
problem is psychogenic then the man can
get counseling. It is important to find out
why, so go to a medical examiner, it may be
only a temporary problem.
Newsday, and one student who received
for working on The Three Village
Herald.
Studentsshould knowthat they can apply
for internship credit in virtually any depart-
ment in the university, and the Undergrad-
uate Studies Office can place students in
internships both on campus and off cam-
pus. Eric Levine, last year's Polity presi-
dent, received internship credit through the
Political Science department for his work
on Polity. The internship program has
helped Statesman, precisely forthe reason
Dunn states, that it reduces the courseload
of students who spend long hours, late at
night, working on the paper. In my own case,
receiving internship credit during my senior
year greatly relieved the pressure I felt at
the time, as Statesman was fighting off
bankruptcy. My own internship played a
key part in the rebuilding process that has
kept Statesman alive.
Sincerely,
George Biderman
Executive Director
Statesman
is a lot of negative response. It would help if
out of every 50 complaints one person said,
'good job, Marc'."
As the Gunning administration draws to a
close, it will be up to the student body to
judge the long-range effects that Gunning
has made, and to decide whether he in fact
did make a difference, for good or bad.
oRi
CB
_ body ever expects the American goven
I
"You
build
to
destroy.. "
Continued from Back Page
"...no, no, no, it ain't me babe..."
Is it Polity, or is it the people in Polity?.
used to think, back in my naive innocent
days as a freshman, that if the studen
population managed to elect some decen
people into Polity, that Polity might be abli
to accomplish half of what it is capable of
Now Fm not so sure. Power corrupts? I don'
know. Perhaps the machinery up in the
suite has such a hold on the coucil member
that they are able to do little more thai
make sure that the paperwork goes through
Or perhaps the council members feelthat a;
long as the paperwork does get done, tha
they are living up to what is expected o
them.
Actually, rm being a bit hard on th
Polity suitemates. More than just papez
work is being accomplished-- meetings ar
attended. Boy, oh boy. Those meetings sur
are great That's when big decisions ar
made, lives hang in the balance. But usuall
all that the meetings create are more papers
more words, more goals, more committees
more excuses. Get it? Get it?
"When the truth
is found to be lies..."
A word is obscene not because of the wa
it sounds or looks, but because of the ide
that the word represents. Politicking is i
itself not an obscene word; it doesn't soun
or look evil Politicking is an obscene idea.
is an idea that is at the core of most of th
actions undertaken by the suitemates up o
the second floor of the Union. Why (there
that word again) is it so difficult for Polit
people to do anything without denegratir
themselves to the basest needs of politics
It is really distressing that maneuvers tal
place, rather than beneficial actions. Tl
difference is not just semantic. It wouldn
even be that bad if the right things wer
being done for the wrong reasons, but eve
this is too much to expect these days.
"As I stare into the vacuum
of my family's eyes..."
It's getting harder and harder to give
shit Apathy was subject that many of th
candidates touched upon during the recei
elections, but with Polity sinking down 1
wer and lower in the students' esteem, a
positive expectations are gone. Just like ii
macrocosm, the U.S. government, Poli1
faces its most difficult barrier-- the sti
dents don't ever expect Polity to do an:
thingright A friend, when pressed as to wh
she was reluctant to vote, told me that sh
doesn't want to be a part of something a
grossly mis-managed and overtly stagnai
as Polity. "If you don't vote, you can'tbitch
is a statement that should be plastered a
over campus (and it almost was: thank
again Brad), but it's hard for students t
give a shit about something that they ha\
not cared about for such a long time. Nc
ment to operate as it should, as it was ii
tended to, ever again. It seems that nobod
expects Polity to either.
Mayl4, 1987 page 13
 __ _ _ , I I r __ I I WHM
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 - -- I~ _rr ~ 1.. . -I =- AMIIIIII

by Craig Goldsmith his own term. The excuses run out after a
while. So it is with Polity.

Why?
"rm going back to New York City, The President of Polity ,like the Presi-
I do believe I've had enough.."

Why? Why why? Why think about why?

Why is this? Why is that? Why, why, why,
why, why?
Why is the question foremost on my mind
these days The object of this question
doesn't even matter anymore, the question
WHY? has transcended such trivialities. It
Why? Why?
seems to apply to everything about this
place. Why do the dorms suck? Why does
DAKA committ such atrocities in the name
:f cooking? Why won't the administration
put the GRI to good use next year (admin
says maybe they will, but I doubt it)? All the
whys seem to blur together, a nightmare
vision of question marks, half-eaten sand-
wiches, and cracked cement
Why is the word that echoes through my
head during every moment that I am on
campus: Why the grafitti? Don't even an-
swer, you, whoever you are that pulls that
shit,I don'treally care. Grafittiis the spastic
manipulations of an angry child, bent only
on making himself heard through the use of
brute force and destruction. It only makes
you look bad. Why so much asphalt? A look
at a yearbook circa 1970 will give an idea of
how good Stony Brook could look-- grass
covering the entire academic malL Its too
bad that Stony Brook really used to look
that way (if it ain't moving, pave it..). Why
of the United States, both in terms of
does everybody bitch and bitch about Po-
lity and then not take thefive minutes to
organization, and population. The
vote? Or maybe, possibly, conceivably,same shit that Reagan's government
spend thirty minutes and figure out what
pulls occurs here. Lack of communica-
each candidate is really up to. Thank you
tion between various organizations
Brad Jones, for one of the best election-
both within the administration and
season posters seen on the walls in nearly
two years.
without, tunnel vision with respect to
the results of policy, heavy-handed rhe-
toric, and inappropriate use of funds
"Before you accuse me
are all symptoms of the diseased nature
take a look at yourselL.." of the Stony Brook administration.
These symptoms also :exist within
Stony Brook is a complex microcosm the microcosm of Polity. It seems rath-
Concerts
Why?
er pathetic when a member of Polity
rags on Jack and Fred s mistakes ("They
just don't think
aboutwhat they're doing," I was told) when
the members of Polity fall victim to the
same pitfalls that are strewn all about the
administration's path. Sure, the Polity Par-
ty members insist thatthey are doing every-
thing in their power to put Polity on the
straight track, but only half-assedly ("It's
not our fault, the bozos from last year really
fucked this year up..."). Yeah, great, but
Carter's mistakes and inaction have noth-
ing to do with Reagan's effectiveness during
-
dent of the USA, has the ability to start
fresh every year; he can people many of the
Polity sub-organizations with members of
his own choosing, and the results of his
decisions are totally and completely upon
his head. All it takes is a little hard work.
After all, he receives a stipend; it's not just a
hobby or an interest after class, Polity
should be a job. The students are paying
him to oversee Polity, which is supposed to
allocate our money in a manner that seems
fit and proper.
Fit and proper. These two words are not
such vague terms. Ask any student wander-
ing around on the academic mall what 'fit
and proper allocation of funds' means. It's
no big deal. It doesn't take a vast intellec-
tual capability to comprehend. Just take
five minutes of your oh, so busy schedule,
and sit down and think about it. That s what
you get paid for. Get it? Get it?
"You are what you is.."
Ever see the movie Mannequin? Really
bad flick, but it centers on this dummy
possessed by a human soul Whenever in
the presence of ordinary men, she is a hard
plaster doll When in the company of her
beau and creator, however, she was alive,
moving, feeling.
Sound familiarl The denizens of the
Polity suite seem to forget that they are
students They pay the student activity fee
same as everybody else. They take classes,
they live in the dorms and in student houses.
Why then, as soon as they are acting in an
offical capacity, the aura appears- that halo
of power and control and money and a name
on a piece of plastic stuck to a door. rve
been called an idealist, but it is not too much
to expect from Polityites that they come
down from the mountain. With a few excep-
tions, such an extraordinary journey appears
tobe too strenuous and taxing ontheir poor,
tired souls.
Continuedon page 13

by John Gabriel and

Quinn Kaufmann
Music began as chanting punctuated by
religious frenzy and ecstasy. Eventually,
the frenzy and the ecstasy became its own
reward. Religious motivation was no longer
necessary, and this is the spirit that drives
rock 'n' roll
If you ever go to a religious ceremony, you
may notice there are people who really
enjoy it, who get an emotional high, and
there are people who are there because
that's what makes them feel faithful If you
ever go to an underground rock show, you
will find people there who really enjoy it,
who also get an emotional high, and you will
find people who are there because that's
what makes them feel fashionable. You
know the kind- they're too cool to clap.
A few weeks ago we caught Balaam and
the Angels/The Mission U.K. at Rumrun-
ner's in Oyster Bay. It was an excellent
show, marred only by a fashionable audi-
ence's lack of enthusiasm.
Balaam and the Angels, a band of four
brothers (honestly, that's what they told us)
from Birmingham, England, opened the
show with "The Wave", a song from their
recently released debut record The Great-
est Story Ever Told. Their eight song set
showcased songs from the record, including
"Don't Be Afraid", "Love Me", and closing
the set, "Light of the World". A slow rolling
guitar chord opens the last piece, which
quickly builds into a fast, dense, layer of
sound It's an old technique, a cliche even,
but to these guys it's new, and they play with
_ I II··- i ·
ISSION
a unique combination of ferocity and care.
Unfortuantely, the audience response was a
polite and careless smattering of applause.
After their set, three of the members of
"There are people who really enjoy
it, who get an emotional high, and
there are people that are there be-
cause that's what makes them feel
fashionable..."
Balaam and the Angels, Jim, Des, and Mark
Morris, joined the audience to watch the
headliners, The Mission U.K. We talked to
Jim, who likes to call himself Jim Morrison,
and he was happy with his and his brothers'
performance, but he was a little disappoint-
ed with the audience. "Eye-yu theeenk we
played reeeally well, except cunsidering
eye-yu gut me toap tie shurt un, toenite,
meegadeath, rd say we deseve a bit uf
reoctshun." Apparently Balaam and the
Angels are used to stirring up quite a frenzy.
Although Jim Morrisjonj's accent was bog-
I I 1,
U.
gling, because he spoke so fast, it satisfied
K.
God's Own Medicine, the Mission
us when he told us he couldn't understand U.K's first disc, is one of the most euphon-
what he was saying either. So we talked for ious allbums everlheard. Warming up with a
about and hour, until The Mission U.K. small Island crowd before hitting Manhat-
tan's Ritz, the band played a long set Jim
Morris(on] throughout the entire Mission
U.K. set was frantically publicizing places
to visit in England or going "un, tuuee,
three, furh, un, tuuee, three, furh."
"What does that mean?" we asked.
He said "Thu beeat, can't yu feeel eet?"
Mis *on U.K. opened up with"Stay With
Me", continued with "Garden of Delight",
Bolshoi's "Away", something new, "Circ-
umspect", "Let Sleeping Dogs Die", "Sev-
erina", "Sacrilege", "A Song About Death",
"Love Me to Death", "Blood Brothers",
Iggy Pop's "1969", "Wasteland", and cov-
ers of"Gimme Shelter" and "Satisfaction".
Besides hearing howls from Wayne Hussey
between songs, Mission U.K., like Balaam
and the Angels, seemed frustrated because
of the dead, zombie-like crowd. But then
again, sometimes bands should understand
took the smoke-filled stage, dressed in their that being catatonically hypnotized shows
that you've been moved deeply by the
gothic attire.
music's power, just as much as when you're
. Wayne Hussey, lead singer and guitarist,
and Craig Adams,former members of Sis- brought to the point that makes you jump
ters of Mercy, formed the Leeds-based and dance and scream. Both reactions are
Mission U.K. with former members from great, just different
Artery (Simon Hinckler, guitarist) and Red
Lorry Yellow Lorry (Mick Brown, drum-
Listen to Mission U.K's album and you'll
mer). Like The Southern Death Cult, a hear the band's lyrics about spiritual obses-
band that changed their name to the Cult, sions, witchcraft, and blood and mirrors.
the U.K. Mission, since dropping the name U.K Mission, after leaving New York,
Sisters of Mercy, have been blessed with a will be touring throughout Europe and
Ja-
hansel of flourishing publicity. pan, with Balaam and the Angels.
I I IIIYI I ~L I I ·